diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/mcp_commands.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/mcp_commands.rs
index 24714d3..1b3fc6a 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/mcp_commands.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/mcp_commands.rs
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ pub async fn mcp_terminal_execute(
     }
 }
 
+/// Get the path where the MCP bridge binary is installed.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn mcp_bridge_path() -> String {
+    crate::mcp::bridge_manager::bridge_path().to_string_lossy().to_string()
+}
+
 /// Get the active session context — last 20 lines of scrollback for a session.
 /// Called by the frontend when the user switches tabs, emitted to the copilot.
 #[tauri::command]
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index b60ff80..206a4e7 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@ pub fn run() {
                         });
                     }));
                     let _ = write_log(&log_file, "Setup: MCP spawn dispatched");
+
+                    // Download/update MCP bridge binary if needed
+                    let app_ver = app.config().version.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| "0.0.0".to_string());
+                    let log_file3 = log_file.clone();
+                    tauri::async_runtime::spawn(async move {
+                        match mcp::bridge_manager::ensure_bridge(&app_ver).await {
+                            Ok(()) => { let _ = write_log(&log_file3, "Setup: MCP bridge binary OK"); }
+                            Err(e) => { let _ = write_log(&log_file3, &format!("Setup: MCP bridge download failed: {}", e)); }
+                        }
+                    });
                 }
                 Err(panic) => {
                     let msg = if let Some(s) = panic.downcast_ref::<String>() {
@@ -199,7 +209,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             commands::rdp_commands::connect_rdp, commands::rdp_commands::rdp_get_frame, commands::rdp_commands::rdp_send_mouse, commands::rdp_commands::rdp_send_key, commands::rdp_commands::rdp_send_clipboard, commands::rdp_commands::disconnect_rdp, commands::rdp_commands::list_rdp_sessions,
             commands::theme_commands::list_themes, commands::theme_commands::get_theme,
             commands::pty_commands::list_available_shells, commands::pty_commands::spawn_local_shell, commands::pty_commands::pty_write, commands::pty_commands::pty_resize, commands::pty_commands::disconnect_pty,
-            commands::mcp_commands::mcp_list_sessions, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_terminal_read, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_terminal_execute, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_get_session_context,
+            commands::mcp_commands::mcp_list_sessions, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_terminal_read, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_terminal_execute, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_get_session_context, commands::mcp_commands::mcp_bridge_path,
             commands::scanner_commands::scan_network, commands::scanner_commands::scan_ports, commands::scanner_commands::quick_scan,
             commands::tools_commands::tool_ping, commands::tools_commands::tool_traceroute, commands::tools_commands::tool_wake_on_lan, commands::tools_commands::tool_generate_ssh_key, commands::tools_commands::tool_generate_password,
             commands::tools_commands_r2::tool_dns_lookup, commands::tools_commands_r2::tool_whois, commands::tools_commands_r2::tool_bandwidth_iperf, commands::tools_commands_r2::tool_bandwidth_speedtest, commands::tools_commands_r2::tool_subnet_calc,
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/mcp/bridge_manager.rs b/src-tauri/src/mcp/bridge_manager.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dbaa8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-tauri/src/mcp/bridge_manager.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+//! MCP bridge binary self-management.
+//!
+//! On startup, checks if wraith-mcp-bridge exists in the data directory.
+//! If missing or outdated, downloads the correct version from Gitea packages.
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+/// Get the expected path for the bridge binary.
+pub fn bridge_path() -> PathBuf {
+    let dir = crate::data_directory();
+    if cfg!(windows) {
+        dir.join("wraith-mcp-bridge.exe")
+    } else {
+        dir.join("wraith-mcp-bridge")
+    }
+}
+
+/// Check if the bridge binary exists and is the correct version.
+/// If not, download it from Gitea packages.
+pub async fn ensure_bridge(app_version: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let path = bridge_path();
+    let version_file = crate::data_directory().join("mcp-bridge-version");
+
+    // Check if bridge exists and version matches
+    if path.exists() {
+        if let Ok(installed_ver) = std::fs::read_to_string(&version_file) {
+            if installed_ver.trim() == app_version {
+                wraith_log!("[MCP Bridge] v{} already installed at {}", app_version, path.display());
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    wraith_log!("[MCP Bridge] Downloading v{} to {}", app_version, path.display());
+
+    let binary_name = if cfg!(windows) {
+        "wraith-mcp-bridge.exe"
+    } else {
+        "wraith-mcp-bridge"
+    };
+
+    let url = format!(
+        "https://git.command.vigilcyber.com/api/packages/vstockwell/generic/wraith/{}/{}",
+        app_version, binary_name
+    );
+
+    let client = reqwest::Client::builder()
+        .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(30))
+        .build()
+        .map_err(|e| format!("HTTP client error: {}", e))?;
+
+    let resp = client.get(&url).send().await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to download MCP bridge: {}", e))?;
+
+    if !resp.status().is_success() {
+        return Err(format!("MCP bridge download failed: HTTP {}", resp.status()));
+    }
+
+    let bytes = resp.bytes().await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to read MCP bridge response: {}", e))?;
+
+    // Write the binary
+    std::fs::write(&path, &bytes)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to write MCP bridge to {}: {}", path.display(), e))?;
+
+    // Make executable on Unix
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+        let mut perms = std::fs::metadata(&path)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to read permissions: {}", e))?
+            .permissions();
+        perms.set_mode(0o755);
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&path, perms)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to set execute permission: {}", e))?;
+    }
+
+    // Write version marker
+    std::fs::write(&version_file, app_version)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to write version file: {}", e))?;
+
+    wraith_log!("[MCP Bridge] v{} installed successfully ({} bytes)", app_version, bytes.len());
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/mcp/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/mcp/mod.rs
index 125081c..8147157 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/mcp/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/mcp/mod.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 pub mod scrollback;
 pub mod server;
 pub mod error_watcher;
+pub mod bridge_manager;
 
 use std::sync::Arc;